Timeless voices
I’m in Athens, Greece for the first time today.
As an author and creative, it’s humbling to stand where storied thinkers stood before. You can almost feel the echo of their ideas in the stones.
Proof that words outlast empires.
— Kevin
💪🏽💛
Three insights
1. How to be fundable & findable.
“Isn’t that like saying food won’t fix hunger?”
↳ I was asked in a keynote interview.
At the Ukrainian Fundraising Conference earlier this month, I loved this question from the host Svitlana Pugach about my signature phrase:
More fundraising can’t fix your fundraising.
To which I replied,
“The better analogy is that it’s like telling someone facing hunger to cook more. You can’t cook and fill your stomach without food and ingredients. Just like you can’t fundraise without a brand.”
Learn how with these 17 quick tips.
And if you don’t have my book yet, get your copy here.
Be fundable.
Be findable.
Be unstoppable.
2. Fundraise less. Argue more.
Don’t sell to donors.
Argue with them.
As in, construct an argument. Here’s how:
Provide them personalized proof.
Rule donors out to rule them in.
Get and keep their attention.
Let them be persuaded.
Use lists for clarity.
See above.
This image shows all five steps, plus the power of great copywriting. And it helped The Guardian raise $30 million in donations.
So make your fundraising compelling, not commercial.
“When we work with speakers on their presentations, where most speechwriters write Main Body, we write The Argument” says Brian Miller. “And then build a case for buy-in, step by step.”
Ads annoy.
Arguments convert.
3. Be unique or be unfunded.
Pursue your vision. Not their validation.
Because donors fund uniqueness.
Not conformity.
That’s why in a sector with 10 million nonprofits — many chasing the same shiny new thing — this timeless wisdom also applies to your fundraising:
“Do not leave yourself to find someone else.”
Reject sector trends.
Reject mission drift.
Reject buzzwords.
“The goal is not to fit in,” says Rick Rubin. “If anything, it’s to amplify the differences, what doesn’t fit, the special characteristics unique to how you see the world.”
Be your own brand.
Be bold, not borrowed.
“If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.” — Maya Angelou
The weekly bonus
How to Engage High Capacity Donors Without Meetings
“The biggest opportunity you have for major donor fundraising is giving introverted or private people a way to see both the numbers and the emotional impact of your work — without having to meet in person,” says Lauri Thompson in her LinkedIn post that went viral.
In it, she offers five pieces of advice:
Be direct.
Give donors options.
Don't overcommunicate.
Create a “what we do” video.
Add “Financial Transparency” to your website.
Sounds obvious, but read the full post for the brilliant nuance.
Need my help?
Check out Fundable/Findable Bootcamp. It’s our self-paced, online course to maximize your funding. In just 15 minutes a day.
And it’s currently 50% off the regular price.
P.S.
This is how to get donors to remember you from conferences and events.
Here I am answering you on Cretan time! Crete For Life is almost 20 years old. It started to share the wonderful Cretan hospitality in summer camps for children in crisis, and it grows to respond to our extended community needs. We are super small but have Cretan superpowers! I love the clarity of your messages and find it very helpful to follow you on LinkedIn. Thank you!
As you are in Athens, come over to Crete to meet us! Oli@creteforlife